Device for automatic reading of an identification code carried by tubular containers

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a device for the automatic reading of an identification code carried by tubular containers (T) arranged in racks, comprising rotating means (M) acting by friction on the tube (T) cylindrical wall through an orifice (OF) provided in one of the two vertical walls (FL 1 , FL 2 ) which extend longitudinally relative to the displacement axis of the racks (R) to cause the tube to rotate during the code reading phase. The invention is useful for identifying sample tubes when they are introduced into a blood analyzer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device for the automatic reading of anidentification code carried by tubular containers placed in filing boxesor carrier units circulating on a distribution chain.

It applies notably, though not exclusively, to the automaticidentification of tubes of samples, e.g. of blood, being introduced intoan automated analysis system.

It also relates to a filing box or carrier unit specially designed toenable said reading.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Generally, it is known that the blood samples to be analyzed in a modernautomated analysis system are arranged in test tubes, usually in glassor plastic, sealed by a stopper. These tubes are identified by anidentification code carried by a label adhering to the cylindrical wallof the tube. This identification code, e.g. a bar code, is designed tobe readable remotely by an e.g. optoelectronic reading unit.

The tubes, fitted with their identification labels, are arranged incarrier units especially designed to be capable of being borne along bythe conveyors equipping the automated analysis system.

In order for the automated system to be able to identify the samples, ithas been proposed that, at the entrance to the automated system, manualor semi-automated entry be performed of the tube identification data, ofthe carrier units and of the positions of the tubes within the carrierunits. However, this type of entry requires the presence of an operatorand involves a high risk of error.

To remedy these drawbacks, it was therefore proposed that an automaticdata reading system be placed along the path of the automaton's supplyconveyor. However, to achieve such a result one must solve the problemstemming from the fact that the angular position of the tubes isundefined and that the label carried by the tube is therefore not alwaysproperly oriented in relation to the reader.

In order to solve this problem, a reader was therefore provided with ameans enabling the tube to be rotated during the reading phase.

Thus, the reader disclosed in European patent No. 0,479,622 uses arotary drive element designed to grasp the stopper of the tube at theend of a downward translation.

Experience has shown that this solution has a certain number ofdrawbacks:

it is relatively complex and uses complicated and costly means,

for each read operation, it requires a relatively long stoppage time anddoes not enable high outputs to be achieved,

it requires the use of stoppers specially designed for this purpose.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The main object of this invention is to remedy the precedingdisadvantages, particularly to provide to this end a device for thereading of identification codes borne on a medium affixed to thecylindrical wall of the specimen tubes arranged in a carrier unittransported by a conveyor of a distribution device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, this device is characterized in that it uses a rotary drivemeans acting by friction on the cylindrical wall of the tube, through anopening provided in one of the two vertical walls extendinglongitudinally in relation to the axis of travel of the carrier units,so as to rotate the tubes about themselves during the code reading phasebut also to enable inspection by camera from which certain informationcan be deduced about the specimen contained in the tube, such as:

hematocrit,

tube filling level,

quality of the sample (hemolysed plasma, etc.).

Advantageously, the drive means can consist of a small roller or endlessbelt made in a material with a high coefficient of friction and arrangedso as to bear against the cylindrical wall of the tube when the latteris in the reading zone.

Likewise, the aforesaid opening can extend over the entire length ofsaid lateral wall so as to enable the drive means to successively comeinto contact with the tubes without requiring any alternating transversemotion of said means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe embodiments of the invention described, by way of non-limitingexamples, in reference to the corresponding accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation enabling the operating principle ofthe reading device to be illustrated;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side perspective views of a monobloc carrier unit inmolded plastic;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the carrier unit according to thelongitudinal vertical plane of symmetry;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view along A/A of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view along B/B of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1 which schematically represents atop view, with a partial horizontal cutaway, of a station P for theidentification of specimen tubes T contained in a carrier unit R, of adistribution system associated e.g. with an automated analysis system.

In this example, the carrier unit R comes in the form of an alveolarstructure in molded plastic, inscribed within a rectangularparallelepiped of width L slightly greater than the diameter D of thetubes T. It comprises two open-worked vertical longitudinal sides FL₁,FL₂ between which are formed five vertical cylindrical alveolar cells Aintended to house five respective specimen tubes T.

The openings made in the side FL₁ extend over a large part of the heightof the alveolar cells A and constitute windows F intended to enable boththe optical reading of the identification codes borne on the cylindricalwalls of the tubes T and the inspection of the contents of the tube.

The openings made in the side FL₂ comprise a slit-shaped opening OFwhich extends over the entire length of the carrier unit R.

The carrier unit R rests, by way of its base, on a belt-type slide railTB comprising e.g. a belt fitted with abutments, is guided laterally bytwo slide rails G₁, G₂ and is driven by a belt fitted with tappetscalled a "conveying" belt. This conveyor is actuated by a step-by-stepmotor (or a continuously operating motor if it is automaticallycontrolled), passes through the identification station P to bring thecarrier units R fitted with their tubes T to the mouth of the automatedanalysis system.

The identification station P, materialized in this instance by rectangledrawn in broken lines, comprises:

on the one hand, an optoelectronic reading device L (e.g. a video cameraassociated with an image analyzer AI or reader of identification codesuch a bar code), located on one side of the conveyor TB, so as to beable to record the image of the cylindrical wall of each of the tubes Tand of their content every time the window F, which enables the tube tobe seen, is situated within the field of the reading device L, and

on the other hand, a drive device consisting in this instance of aknurling wheel M, in a resilient material such as rubber, rotated by anelectric motor; this knurling wheel M of vertical axis is located at thelevel of the reading device, on the other side of the conveyor TB inorder to be able to engage itself in the longitudinal opening OF of thecarrier unit R so as to successively come and bear against thecylindrical wall of the tubes T and thus drive them in rotation.

To facilitate this rotation, and to enable good positioning of thecylindrical side of the tube T in relation to the reading device L, thealveolar cells A comprise two vertical bearing elements, in thisinstance vertical ribs N, which are protrusions extending to both sidesof a plane of symmetry of the window F, as well as an elasticallydeformable bearing part PA situated on the alveolar cell A side oppositethe window F; this bearing part PA is intended to hold the tube Tapplied against the rounded edges of the carrier unit, therefore in aposition perfectly centered in relation to the window F.

The rounded edges could be replaced by small rotating rollers ofvertical axis so as to reduce, insofar as possible, the frictionalforces susceptible of opposing the rotation of the tubes T and to limitcatching of labels, especially when the latter are badly stuck on.

When the edge of a label is slightly unstuck, an unstuck portion canbecome stuck back when the tube is rotated. The ribs are thereforepositioned so as to avoid the sticking phenomenon.

It is obvious that, by way of these relatively simple, inexpensive andyet efficient arrangements, it becomes possible to achieve reliableidentification of the tubes T, of the position of these tubes withincarrier units R as well as identification of the carrier units, e.g. bya reading of a code identifying the carrier unit by the same readingdevice L.

Likewise, continuous inspection of the tube is made easy without riskingmixing the cells (globules) and plasma separated beforehand bycentrifugation.

The carrier unit R₁ represented in FIGS. 2 to 6 is of a structuresimilar to the one previously described.

However, in this instance, the vertical edges B of the parallelepipedshape, which are situated at the two ends, are beveled.

The lower part of the carrier unit R₁ comprises a seat E of transverseprofile in the shape of a tilted "H" and which comprises a series oftransversal partitionings CT (stiffeners) capable of facilitatingcentrifugation.

In its central region, the seat E is fitted with a rib delimiting atransversal volume VT of substantially "C"-shaped or dovetail-shapedcross section, intended to cooperate with a guide rail of complementarye.g. "T"-shaped cross-section.

The upper part of the carrier unit R₁ comprises, in this instance, fivevertical cylindrical alveolar cells A₁ to A₅ open at the level of theupper side of the carrier unit, the diameter of these alveolar cells A₁to A₅ being slightly greater than the diameter of the tubes and slightlyless than the width of the carrier unit R₁.

On the side of side FL₁, these alveolar cells A₁ to A₅ open outwards byway of oblong windows F₁ to F₅ which extend from the upper side of theunit to the level of the seat.

These windows F₁ to F₅ are intended to enable reading of theidentification codes inscribed on the cylindrical wall of the tubes oron labels stuck to these walls.

On the side of side FL₂, the carrier unit R₁ comprises an opening ofrectangular section OF₁ which extends horizontally, at mid-height of thecarrier unit R₁, from one end of said unit to the other. The depth p ofthis opening is provided such that one portion of the wall of the tubesis bared and can thus cooperate with a rotary drive means of the type ofthe knurling wheel M represented in FIG. 1.

As in the example previously described, the alveolar cells A₁ to A₅comprise, on both sides of the windows F₁ to F₅, rounded surfaces N(furrowed surfaces) against which the tubes come to bear, preferably ata tangent, and can turn while solving the previously mentioned problemor partial unsticking of the label.

Opposite each of these rounded surfaces N is provided a flexible tab PA₁to PA₅ extending obliquely slightly into the interior volume of thecorresponding alveolar cell A₁ to A₅ so as to maintain the tube appliedagainst the rounded surfaces irrespective of existing standard diameter.

This tab PA1 to PA5 is cast integral with the rest of the carrier unit.

We claim:
 1. Carrier unit intended to house at least one tubularcontainer having a cylindrical wall which bears an identification codeintended to be read remotely by an optoelectronic reader, wherein saidcarrier unit is in the form of an alveolar structure comprising firstand second vertical longitudinal walls between which is formed at leasta vertical cylindrical alveolar cell intended to house said tubularcontainers, said first longitudinal side being provided with at least awindow intended to enable both an optical reading of the identificationcodes and an optical inspection of the contents of the tubularcontainer, whereas said second longitudinal side comprises a slit-shapedopening extending over the entire length of the carrier unit.
 2. Carrierunit as claimed in claim 1, which is cast in one single molded piece. 3.Carrier unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the alveolar cell comprisestwo rounded vertical bearing elements, and an elastically deformablebearing part, protruding on the alveolar cell side opposite the window.4. Carrier unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said bearing elementsconsist of rotary rollers of vertical axis.
 5. Carrier unit as claimedin claim 3, wherein the bearing part consists of a slightly obliqueflexible tab cast integral with said carrier unit.
 6. Carrier unit asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the said bearing elements consist offurrowed surfaces enabling the tubular container to be rotated. 7.Device for automatically reading an identification code carried by acylindrical wall of a tubular container having a coaxial vertical axisof rotation and placed inside a carrier unit provided with first andsecond parallel vertical walls, said carrier being transported by aconveyor having an axis of travel parallel to said vertical walls andpassing through a reading zone, said first vertical wall being providedwith an elongated opening which extends in a direction parallel to saidaxis of travel and said second vertical wall having at least a windowfacing said cylindrical wall, said device comprising a rotary drivemeans having a friction means which comes in tangential contact on saidcylindrical wall through said elongated opening when the carrier unit isin said reading zone, for imparting to said tubular container a rotatingmotion about said axis of rotation, reading means being provided forreading said identification code through said window while the tubularcontainer is rotating about said axis in said reading zone.
 8. Device asclaimed in claim 7, wherein said rotary drive means consists of a rollermade in a material with a high coefficient of friction which come intocontact on said cylindrical wall when said tubular container is in saidreading zone.
 9. Device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said openingcan extend over the entire length of said vertical wall for enabling thedrive means to successively come into contact with the receptacleswithout requiring any alternating transverse motion of said means. 10.Device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the carrier unit has a sideopposite said opening provided with a series of windows enabling theoptical reading of identification codes carried by the containers and anoptical inspection of the contents of said containers.
 11. Device asclaimed in claim 7, wherein the carrier unit comes in the form of analveolar structure of molded material, inscribed within a rectangularparallelepiped comprising two open-worked vertical longitudinal sidesbetween which are formed vertical cylindrical alveolar cells intended tohouse specimen tubes, the openings made in one of said sidesconstituting windows intended to enable both the optical reading of theidentification codes borne on the cylindrical walls of the said tubesand an inspection of the contents thereof, whereas the openings made inthe side comprise a slit-shaped opening which extends over the entirelength of the carrier unit.
 12. Device as claimed in claim 11, whereinthe alveolar cells comprise two vertical and rounded bearing elements,and an elastically deformable bearing part situated on the alveolar cellside opposite the said window.
 13. Device as claimed in claim 12,wherein the said bearing elements consist of rotary rollers of verticalaxis enabling one of said tubes to be rotated.
 14. Device as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the bearing part consists of a slightly obliqueflexible tab cast integral with the rest of the carrier unit.
 15. Deviceas claimed in claim 12, wherein the said bearing elements consist offurrowed surfaces enabling the tube to be rotated.
 16. Device as claimedin claim 7, wherein said rotary drive means consist of an endless belthaving a high coefficient of friction, on which said tubular containercome into contact when said tubular container is in a reading zone.